The main objective of this study is to perform nonlinear dynamic earthquake time history analyses on Morrow Point Dam, which is located 263 km southwest of Denver, Colorado. This project poses many significant technical challenges, one of which is to model the entire Morrow Point Dam/Foundation Rock/Reservoir system which includes accurate geology topography. In addition, the computational model must be initialized to represent the existing dead loads on the structure and the stress field caused by the dead loads. To achieve the correct dead load stress field due to gravity and hydrostatic load, the computer model must account for the manner in which the dams were constructed. Construction of a dam finite element model with the correct as-built geometry of the dam structure and simply ''turning on'' gravity in the computer model will generally lead to an incorrect initial stress field in the structure. The sequence of segmented lifts typical of dam construction has a significant impact on the static stress fields induced in the dam. In addition, the dam model must also account for the interaction between the adjacent dam segments across the dam contraction joints. As a result of these challenges, it was determined that a significant amount …

Major scientific and technological breakthroughs played a pivotal role in our ability to win the Cold War. The possibility of a different type of war, in response to terrorism, has long been recognized. Indeed, countermeasures to address specific terrorist acts have been developed and are deployed, for example, at special sporting and political events. The current threat environment, however, has created an intense and compelling set of concerns; consequently, the challenge to the scientific Community to develop new concepts and products on an accelerated timeframe is clear. Also, the spectrum of terrorist threats is broad. It includes the use of conventional, chemical, biological, and nuclear and radiological weapons, not to mention cyber-based attacks. The imperatives for advances have been amplified now that attacks are clearly possible within the U.S. borders. For example, advanced sensors and detectors that are able to monitor the proliferation of all the above warfare agents and their movement at entry points into the U.S. are clearly needed. The investments over the last decades in research and development efforts at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories in nonproliferation have led unique technologies and detection capabilities that have proved useful; yet, many challenges remain. In particular, …

Safety issues related to thermal cook-off are important for handling and storing explosive devices. Violence of event as a function of confinement is important for prediction of collateral events. There are major issues, which require an understanding of the following events: (1) transit to detonation of a pressure wave from a cook-off event, (2) sensitivity of HMX based explosives changes with thermally induced phase transitions and (3) the potential danger of neighboring explosive devices being affected by a cook-off reaction. Results of cook-off events of known size, confinement and thermal history allows for development and/or calibrating computer models for calculating events that are difficult to measure experimentally.

In filled PDMS based composites, such as M97XX stress cushions, significant mechanical reinforcement of the polymer component is obtained from hydrogen bonding between the silica filler surface hydroxyls and the siloxane polymer backbone. It is expected that these interactions are influenced by the amount and structure of interfacial water. We have chosen to investigate in detail the effect of chemisorbed and physisorbed water on the interfacial structure and dynamics in silica-filled PDMS-based composites. Toward this end, we have combined classical molecular dynamics simulations and experimental studies employing nanoindentation, temperature programmed desorption (TPD), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analyses. Our TPD results suggest that moisture desorption and adsorption in M9787 can be approximated by the interaction of its silica constituents (Cab-0-Sil-M-7D and Hi-Sil-233) with moisture. Our experimental data also reveal that, in general, as heat-treated silica particles are exposed to moisture, chemisorbed states, then physisorbed states are gradually filled up in that order. Molecular modeling results suggest that the polymer-silica contact distance and the mobility of interfacial polymer chains significantly decreased as the hydration level at the interface was reduced. The reduced mobility of the PDMS chains in the interfacial domain reduced the bulk motional properties of …

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are developing means to collect and identify fluid-based biological pathogens in the forms of proteins, viruses, and bacteria. To support detection instruments, we are developing a flexible fluidic sample preparation unit. The overall goal of this Microfluidic Module is to input a fluid sample, containing background particulates and potentially target compounds, and deliver a processed sample for detection. We are developing techniques for sample purification, mixing, and filtration that would be useful to many applications including immunologic and nucleic acid assays. Sample preparation functions are accomplished with acoustic radiation pressure, dielectrophoresis, and solid phase extraction. We are integrating these technologies into packaged systems with pumps and valves to control fluid flow and investigating small-scale detection methods.

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are promising engineering materials for a wide spectrum of applications. There are many possible matrix-reinforcement combinations including MMCs containing copper or copper alloy matrices [1-3]. The present study is concerned with copper reinforced with SiC particles. The materials studied here were processed from nano-scale matrix powders and consolidated using dynamic compaction.

We offer a case for active technical management of the radiative forcing of the temperatures of the Earth's fluid envelopes, rather than administrative management of atmospheric greenhouse gas inputs, in order to stabilize both the global- and time-averaged climate and its mesoscale features. We suggest that active management of radiative forcing entails negligible--indeed, likely strongly negative--economic costs and environmental impacts, and thus best complies with the pertinent mandate of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We propose that such approaches be swiftly evaluated in sub-scale in the course of an intensive international program.

Predictions of component performance versus lifetime are often risky for complex materials in which there may be many underlying aging or degradation mechanisms. In order to develop more accurate predictive models for silica-filled siloxane components, we are studying damage mechanisms over a broad range of size domains, linked together through several modeling efforts. Atomistic and molecular dynamic modeling has elucidated the chemistry of the silica filler to polymer interaction, as this interaction plays a key role in this material's aging behavior. This modeling work has been supported by experimental data on the removal of water from the silica surface, the effect of the surrounding polymer on this desiccation, and on the subsequent change in the mechanical properties of the system. Solid State NMR efforts have characterized the evolution of the polymer and filler dynamics as the material is damaged through irradiation or desiccation. These damage signatures have been confirmed by direct measurements of changes in polymer crosslink density and filler interaction as measured by solvent swelling, and by mechanical property tests. Data from the changes at these molecular levels are simultaneously feeding the development of age-aware constitutive models for polymer behavior. In addition, the microstructure of the foam, including under …

We have evaluated a collimator-less gamma-ray imaging system, which is based on thin layers of double-sided strip HPGe detectors. The position of individual gamma-ray interactions will be deduced by the strip addresses and the Ge layers which fired. Therefore, high bandwidth pulse processing is not required as in thick Ge detectors. While the drawback of such a device is the increased number of electronics channels to be read out and processed, there are several advantages, which are particularly important for remote applications: the operational voltage can be greatly reduced to fully deplete the detector and no high bandwidth signal processing electronics is required to determine positions. Only a charge sensitive preamplifier, a slow pulse shaping amplifier, and a fast discriminator are required on a per channel basis in order to determine photon energy and interaction position in three dimensions. Therefore, the power consumption and circuit board real estate can be minimized. More importantly, since the high bandwidth signal shapes are not used to determine the depth position, lower energy signals can be processed. The processing of these lower energy signals increases the efficiency for the recovery of small angle scattering. Currently, we are studying systems consisting of up to ten …

The fundamental atomic-level properties of point and line defects in bcc Ta have been simulated by means of quantum-based multi-ion interatomic potentials derived from the model generalized pseudopotential theory (MGPT). The potentials have been applied to the calculations of point defect formation and migration energies. The results are then compared with the ab-initio electronic-structure results and experimental data, which in turn provide rigorous validation tests of the MGPT potentials. Robust and accurate two- and three-dimensional Green's function (GF) techniques have been developed for static and dynamic simulations of single a/2<111> screw dislocation properties in bcc Ta. The transformation of the dislocation core under the influence of external stress was studied in detail using static GF method. Finite-temperature GF simulation reveals multiple-kink (thermal-kink) formation under an applied stress and the corresponding thermal-kink configuration entropy is estimated to be around 5.23k{sub B}.

We present an algorithm for end-to-end out-of-core simplification and view-dependent visualization of large surfaces. The method consists of three phases: (1) memory insensitive simplification; (2) memory insensitive construction of a level-of-detail hierarchy; and (3) run-time, output sensitive, view-dependent rendering and navigation of the mesh. The first two off-line phases are performed entirely on disk, and use only a small, constant amount of memory, whereas the run-time component relies on memory mapping to page in only the rendered parts of the mesh in a cache coherent manner. As a result, we are able to process and visualize arbitrarily large meshes given a sufficient amount of disk space--a constant multiple of the size of the input mesh. Similar to recent work on out-of-core simplification, our memory insensitive method uses vertex clustering on a uniform octree grid to coarsen a mesh and create a hierarchy, and a quadric error mettic to choose vertex positions at all levels of resolution. We show how the quadric information can be used to concisely represent vertex position, surface normal, error, and curvature information for anisotropic view-dependent coarsening and silhouette preservation. The focus of this paper is on the out-of-core construction of a level-of-detail hierarchy---our framework is general …

In this paper, we report results on exploration of two-dimensional (2D) time varying datasets. We extend the notion of multiresolution spatial data approximation of static datasets to spatio-temporal approximation of time-varying datasets. Time-varying datasets typically do not change ''uniformly,'' i.e., some spatial sub-domains can experience only little or no change for extended periods of time. In these sub-domains, we show that approximation error bounds can be met when using sub-domains from other time-steps effectively. We generate a more general approximation scheme where sub-domains may approximate congruent sub-domains from any other time steps. While this incurs an O(T2) overhead, where T is the total number of time-steps, we show significant reduction in data transmission. We also discuss ideas for improvements to reduce overhead.

We present a surface compression method that stores surfaces as wavelet-compressed signed-distance volumes. Our approach enables the representation of surfaces with complex topology and arbitrary numbers of components within a single multiresolution data structure. This data structure elegantly handles topological modification at high compression rates. Our method does not require the costly and sometimes infeasible base mesh construction step required by subdivision surface approaches. We present several improvements over previous attempts at compressing signed-distance functions, including an 0(n) distance transform, a zero set initialization method for triangle meshes, and a specialized thresholding algorithm. We demonstrate the potential of sampled distance volumes for surface compression and progressive reconstruction for complex high genus surfaces.

The authors have designed and fabricated a 355 x 150 mm multilayer dielectric diffraction grating, 1800 l/mm for 1030 nm light, that exhibits >99% diffraction efficiency and a diffracted wavefront flatness of <0.15 {lambda}. This grating is an enabling component of a 1 ps, high rep-rate machining laser currently in operation at LLNL.

Experimental tests have been undertaken to determine safe levels of laser exposure on bare high explosive (HE) samples and on common metals used in intimate contact with HE. Laser light is often focused on bare HE and upon metals in contact with HE during alignment procedures and experimental metrology experiments. This paper looks at effects caused by focusing laser beams at high energy densities directly onto the surface of various bare HE samples. Laser energy densities (fluence) exceeding 19 kilowatts/cm{sup 2} using a 5-milliwatt, 670 nm, cw laser diode were generated by focusing the laser down to a spot size diameter of 4 microns. Upon careful inspection, no laser damage was observed in any of the HE samples illuminated at this fluence level. Direct laser exposure of metals directly contacting HE surfaces was also tested. Laser energy densities (fluence) varying from 188 Watts/cm{sup 2} to 12.7 KW/cm{sup 2} were generated using an 11-Watt, 532 nm frequency-doubled Nd:YAG cw laser with focal spot size diameters as small as 100 microns. These measurements look at the temperature rise of the surface of the metal in contact with HE when laser energy is incident on the opposite side of the metal. The temperature …

A new process is being developed to extract starch from millfeed, the low-value byproduct of wheat flour milling, and convert it to glucose through enzymatic processing. The millfeed-derived glucose will then be converted to value-added products, such as polyol, through a catalytic process, or lactic acid, through a fermentation process. The starch (glucose) recovery process has been tested through the pilot scale. Catalytic and fermentation processes have been tested in the laboratory. The process developed for glucose recovery from wheat millfeed includes hot water extraction of starch and filtration of a fibrous animal feed coproduct, followed by enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification of the extracted starch, with filtration of a high-protein coproduct. The bench-scale tests showed that a glucose yield of approximately 30% on a dry millfeed basis could be achieved, which corresponds to the recovery of essentially all the glucose value in the millfeed. Glucose yields with the pilot-scale system were comparable, although filtration was more difficult.

A variational analysis is used to derive a mixed P{sub 1}DP{sub 0} (spherical harmonics-double spherical harmonics) angular approximation to the time-independent monoenergetic neutron transport equation with linearly anisotropic scattering in one-dimensional planar geometry. This mixed approximation contains a space-dependent weight factor {alpha}(x) that controls the local angular approximation used: {alpha}(x) = 1 yields the standard P{sub 1} (diffusion) approximation, {alpha}(x) = 0 gives the standard DP{sub 0} approximation, and 0 < {alpha}(x) < 1 produces a mixed approximation. The diffusion equation obtained differs from the standard P{sub 1} diffusion equation only in the definition of the diffusion coefficient. The variational analysis shows that both the scalar flux and the current are continuous at material interfaces regardless of the value of {alpha}(x). Standard Marshak boundary conditions are also obtained via the variational analysis. In this paper, they examine the use of this mixed angular approximation to more accurately treat material interfaces and vacuum boundaries. Numerical results from a mixed-oxide fuel test problem are presented to demonstrate that significant improvements in accuracy can be obtained using this method. For this test problem, the mixed P{sub 1}-DP{sub 0} angular approximation with {alpha} = 0.25 is found to be more robust than the standard …

A series of criticality studies were performed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the late 1950's using aqueous solutions of {sup 233}U in the form of UO{sub 2}F{sub 2} stabilized with 0.3% by weight of HF. These experiments were assigned the program name Falstaff. The {sup 233}U concentration in these experiments ranged from 0.13 to 0.87 kg/l. Eight type 347 stainless steel spheres ranging in inner radius from 7.87 to 12.45 cm were available for use as containers for the solutions. The scope of this evaluation is limited to the experiments involving the four lowest concentrations of uranyl-fluoride solution with 0.45, 0.37, 0.24 and 0.13 kg ({sup 233}U)/l. Reflectors of beryllium, polyethylene and beryllium-polyethylene composites were used. Thirty-one configurations are evaluated and accepted as criticality-safety benchmark models. Fission rate data calculated by the evaluator (see Appendix B) show that twenty-six of these configurations have over 50% of the fissions occurring in the thermal energy range and these configurations are therefore classified as ''THERMAL''. Five of the configurations have less than 50% of the fissions occurring in any of the fast, intermediate or thermal energy range and therefore are classified as ''MIXED''.

We propose the development of a novel detector that can locate and identify materials of interest to Nuclear Arms Non Proliferation. The device will combine nuclear acoustic resonance (NAR) with superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) widely used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), geophysics, nondestructive evaluations, and biomagnetism, to name only few. NAR works like NMR. Thus resonant absorption (of applied ultrasonic energy) by a nuclear spin system occurs when the ultrasonic frequency is equal to the appropriate frequency separations between the magnetic nuclear energy levels. Ultrasonic energy couples to the nuclear spin system via spin-phonon interaction. The resulting nuclear acoustic resonance can be detected via the changes in (a) ultrasonic attenuation, (b) ultrasonic velocity, (c) material magnetization, (d) or nuclear magnetic susceptibility, all of which carries ''intrinsic and unique signatures'' of the material under investigation. The device's sensitivity and penetration depth (into metals) will be enhanced by incorporating SQUID technology into the design. We will present the details of interaction physics and outline a plan of action needed to successfully transform the concepts into a practical detector.

Acoustical signal processing problems can lead to some complex and intricate techniques to extract the desired information from noisy, sometimes inadequate, measurements. The challenge is to formulate a meaningful strategy that is aimed at performing the processing required even in the face of uncertainties. This strategy can be as simple as a transformation of the measured data to another domain for analysis or as complex as embedding a full-scale propagation model into the processor. The aims of both approaches are the same--to extract the desired information and reject the extraneous, that is, develop a signal processing scheme to achieve this goal. In this paper, we briefly discuss this underlying philosophy from a ''bottom-up'' approach enabling the problem to dictate the solution rather than visa-versa.

We are currently investigating the long term aging of weapon organics in an effort to develop predictive capabilities for functional service life. As part of this effort, we have been studying multimechanism aging of M97 and 53370 stress cushions. Ionizing radiation, thermal degradation, and desiccation all affect the crosslink density and motional dynamics and thus the engineering performance of these materials. Our approach has been to develop molecular level understanding of the effects of such aging mechanisms on polymer properties by a combined approach utilizing solvent swelling, thermal, DMA, molecular modeling, and solid state NMR. This presentation will offer a survey of our current work, concentrating on the application of solid state NMR for correlating structure and polymer dynamics. An overview of the relationships between crosslink density, NMR relaxation times, polymer chain dynamics, and storage modulus measurements will be presented and the advantages of NMR will be discussed. It will be shown that silicone based polymers tend to crosslink upon exposure to {gamma}-radiation, undergo chain scission upon thermal degradation, and stiffen upon desiccation.

LLM-105 (2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide) is a new molecule which has performance and insensitivity between those of HMX and TATB. Its calculated energy content is about 85% that of HMX and 15% more than that of TATB. It is thermally stable, insensitive to shock, spark and friction and has impact insensitivity level approaching that of TATB. These combined properties make it a realistic high-performance IHE material, attractive for applications that require moderate performance and insensitivity. Several morphologies of LLM-105 and plastic-bonded formulations containing these materials and another binder were prepared and characterized. Their physical properties and detonation spreading characteristics are compared to those of ultrafine TATB. The impact sensitivity (drop hammer results) is sensitive to particle morphologies. Detonation-spreading, spot-size tests on LLM-105 compositions showed higher energy output and superior divergence behavior than is observed for ultrafine TATB. The small-scale safety data, pressing characteristics and results from divergence experiments will be summarized.

An ultrasonic technique was developed to detect and characterize laser damage in critical optics. During normal usage, sub critical flaws induced by high laser fluence can grow to critical size and potentially can cause unanticipated failure of the optics. This ultrasonic technique monitors the optic in situ and provides a quick, reliable way to quantify the location, number and, ultimately, the size of defects that may initiate and grow during firing of the laser. The feasibility of detecting and sizing laser-induced damage with an ultrasonic technology was theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. An experiment was conducted whereby ultrasonic data was acquired in situ on an optic as it was damaged by a laser. This monitoring of laser induced damage clearly demonstrated the potential for ultrasonic monitoring of critical optics for laser-induced damage.

The authors present analytical expressions for the dynamic structure factor, or form factor S(k,{omega}), which is the quantity describing the inelastic x-ray cross section from a dense plasma or a simple liquid. The results, based on the random phase approximation (RPA) for the treatment on the charged particle coupling, can be applied to describe scattering from either weakly coupled classical plasmas or degenerate electron liquids. The form factor correctly reproduces the Compton energy downshift and the usual Fermi-Dirac electron velocity distribution for S(k,{omega}) in the case of a cold degenerate plasma. the usual concept of scattering parameter is also reinterpreted for the degenerate case in order to include the effect of the Thomas-Fermi screening. The results shown in this work can be applied to interpreting x-ray scattering in warm dense plasmas occurring in inertial confinement fusion experiments or inside the interior of planets.